Children Quote by Karen Joy Fowler
“I am the daughter of a psychologist. I know that the thing ostensibly being studied is rarely the thing being studied. (We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, p. 99)”
About This Quote
Source Novel: We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, 2005
Research often studies a proxy, missing the true phenomenon of interest.
In simple terms: Studies may focus on the wrong thing.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions in research design.
Themes
research methodology
psychology
misinterpretation
proxy variables
science
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic studies
- clinical trials
- market research
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
epistemology
experimental design
bias detection
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden variables might be ignored?
- How to identify the real subject of study?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on proxies can mislead conclusions.
